Monkeyshine Golden Monkeygrass. Dr. Todd Lasseigne, now director of the Tulsa Botanical Garden, gave me this selection which someone had given him in Japan. It is the first time that I have ever seen a golden leaf form of this species; although, there are many variegated and dwarf forms. It also produces the surreal blue berries which are characteristic of this species. The flowers are embedded in its leaves, so that are not very showy. So far it has grown more in a clump than spreading rhizomes like this species usually produces. The more sun it is in, the brighter the golden color. When grown in more shade, the color is more chartreuse. One can see in the photos the difference between this cultivar and the species. I have never seen this cultivar offered in America, and as many times as I have visited Japan, I have never seen it there either.
Zones 7-10
